Private Tour
Shamisen Experience in Kyoto 【Private】
Overview
Available languages
1 hour 30 minutes
Mobile ticket
You'll receive direct lessons from a professional Shamisen player with 20 years of experience.
It’s extremely rare to find Shamisen lessons in English within Japan.
In just 30 minutes, you'll be able to play a well-known traditional Japanese song! You can also immerse yourself in a meditative Shamisen session while enjoying the atmosphere of a traditional Japanese house.
We're looking forward to our session at the Shamisen Dojo!
Additional Info
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Learning the Shamisen in English. This makes our facility one of Kyoto's rare gems. During the lesson, you can enjoy Japanese tea while having relaxed conversations with the owner, who is also a professional Shamisen player. The curriculum is thoughtfully designed to be beginner-friendly, ensuring that even first-time players can enjoy learning the Shamisen with ease. The highlight of the lesson, however, is the jam session with the owner, using traditional Japanese scales. The professional player will accompany you, offering guidance while encouraging you to freely play melodies and express yourself through the Shamisen. This groundbreaking program has even received recognition from experts in the Shamisen community. Don’t miss this opportunity to experience something truly special—come and join us! Additionally, we have lefty Shamisen available for left-handed players.
What‘s Included
Souvenir ; Take home a small, unique souvenir to commemorate your experience.
Samue ; to further immerse yourself in the experience, you will wear traditional samue.
Photo/video session
Demonstration by a professional instructor
Take a quick break from the lesson and enjoy a cup of Japanese green tea.
Rental Shamisen and Accesarres
A demonstration performance by the instructor
Options
Shamisen Experience in Kyoto
Workshop Tea Break : During this time, feel free to ask any questions about the instructor, the shamisen, or anything else.
Reviews
90 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
One of the most authentic, friendly, and enjoyable experiences I had in Japan.
Ahmetcan E,May 9, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00First of all, the location of this experience was very easy to find. Once you arrive in the area, it’s easy to recognize the building thanks to the signs. The house itself is cozy, and very aesthetically designed, which already makes the whole experience feel special from the moment you walk in. Jack welcomed me in a very warm and friendly way. He speaks fluent English, so communication was easy and enjoyable throughout the entire session. He shared interesting historical information about the shamisen and Japanese folk music, and made sure I had a truly enjoyable experience with both the instrument and Japanese culture. What I especially appreciated was how well he adapted the lesson to my level. He can teach complete beginners from the very basics, but if you already have some experience with string instruments, he naturally adjusts the pace and makes the lesson more engaging. We played music together, took photos and videos, and also had some wonderful cultural conversations. I left feeling genuinely happy, and I would absolutely recommend this experience to anyone who wants to enjoy an authentic and memorable cultural activity in Kyoto.
Jack is an excellent...
Phoenyx M,May 6, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Jack is an excellent teacher. He's an incredibly friendly guide to the enchanting world of shamisen.
Awesome experience!
stepheneE2115WI,May 1, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was worth every penny. Jack’s not only a knowledgeable teacher who can help anyone with any level of music experience, he’s also a genuinely cool guy. Not to mention a killer Shamisen player!! I will definitely come back if I visit Kyoto again.
Awesome class!
jeffreycF2515YW,Apr 22, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a great time learning from a shamisen master! He explained everything very well and we had so much fun playing this instrument together. This lesson is definitely one that people should plan for while visiting Kyoto!
Amazing shamisen lesson!
tanyanB7570IE,Apr 4, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Jack is such an awesome teacher and so good at putting you at ease. We had a great time learning the basics of this amazing instrument!
Cosy Dojo. Cool sounds.
877jalenj,Apr 3, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00It was a fun and chill smooth experience. The lesson was easy to follow and Jack was a good teacher. The Dojos aesthetics are calm and cosy.
Do this if you're in Kyoto. If you're not going to be in Kyoto, change your plans, go to Kyoto, and do this.
trevorcK4448HW,Mar 20, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00My wife and I had incredible experiences every single day of our trip to Japan, and this was honestly the standout favorite for both of us. Jack is super friendly, easy to have a conversation with, and most of all is a fantastic instructor! He taught us fundamental scales used in various regions and eras of Japan which felt like we were really engaging with part of the musical culture and history of Japan. Each one he'd show the scale ascending and descending, then would shred some improv showing the emotions each scale could evoke. By the end of the lesson we were doing improv solos of our own (admittedly much less impressive than his). We also learned some traditional Japanese songs perfect for beginners (we've both had Sakura stuck in our heads since we left the Dojo). Jack went above and beyond our expectations, and we both plan on doing online lessons with him in the future.
Better than I imagined!!
floydk944,Mar 14, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This lesson and experience was even better then if I imagined it myself. Jack is an experienced teacher and player and keeps the lesson geared toward instruction AND fun at the same time! I can see anyone wanting to learn and play a literally in a living Japanese art form would love this experience. Now I think I am hooked on this instrument thanks to Jack!
Shamisen in Kyoto
E3316YJdavidk,Dec 31, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was a wonderful experience. Very simple to book online. I travelled to the dojo by bike which was easy to find. Jack is an accomplished player and a skilled teacher. He is calm and encouraging. The 90 minute lesson went by quickly and I left with a deeper appreciation for an instrument I had little knowledge of before visiting Japan. A great way to mark New Year’s Eve in Kyoto. Thank you Jack!
Amazing instructor
A1370XUeliasd,Dec 24, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Me and my family came into the Dojo, all of us except my dad had no experience on any instruments. Jack changed that quick, me and my family got the hang of the shamisen quick, and learned to play many songs! The dojo looks really nice too. Everything about this place was amazing, but Jack was what made it amazing. And to anybody reading this, check out the music he produces, it’s amazing!
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